Butterfly Garden

One of our gardens attracts lots of butterflies. Today a very large gorgeous yellow and black one was feeding on our flowers. The boys enjoyed studying the insect and actually getting close enough to see its "straw" drink the sweet juice.

Link Robots

The boys got these link toys from Wendy's a long time ago and they pulled them out to build robots. I did not assist with this process at all and when they surprised me with their creations I was pretty impressed.

Aiden made his robot color coordinated; I was proud that he split them by color all on his own.*

Owen's creation are always very intricate, with wheels and faces and such.

*Aiden is essentially naked because starting potty training and he just wanted to wear his undies.

Extra Pictures

Oops, I forgot that I had taken two cute pictures on my phone at the beach. When we arrived at the house, Owen immediately changed into his swimsuit and both boys ran down to see the ocean. Always love the first moments when we arrive.

Beach Vacation

We headed back down to Duck to the same house we stayed in last year for another week of fun at the beach. Grandma and Jenni were able to join us, but sadly Grandpa had to stay back and work. The weather was just about perfect. The ocean was touch and go, some days super calm, some days super rough. The water started off freezing and got warmer through the week. We spent the majority of every day at the beach or pool. The boys enjoyed playing in the sand but not really how I had thought. They both did build a couple castles but digging holes and searching for shells and rocks way more fun.

Owen did as I expected him to with the ocean. At first he would just get his feet wet but really didn't play in it. He enjoyed sitting to the waves came to him and loved running getting splashed by me and then running away. However, once the waves were calm he went in while I held him and he loved it. He asked to go back in and would tell me to go in and check to see if it was right for him. So cute! But the days that it was rough he wouldn't get close, too scary and loud.

Aiden also did as I expected. He ran right to it and splashed and kicked and frolicked in the wave area. He had a blast and was so cute to watch. We felt like he began understanding the pull of the ocean and responded when he should to the bigger waves. But most his time was spent with his favorite aunt Jenni splashing in the waves. He also showed everyone his karate moves to the ocean. He also came in the ocean when it was calm and if it wasn't too cold he enjoyed it as well. However, on the rough ocean days Aiden wanted nothing to do with the beach and would start walking himself to our pool.

The rest of us enjoyed playing and relaxing in the ocean, beach and playing with the sand monsters. One day it was so rough that Omer and I were jumping and diving waves and actually both got tossed. It was a ton of fun!

The pool showed to be a wonderful addition as expected. Nice way to cool off and clean off after the beach mainly for the boys when they couldn't go in. The pool was perfect as Owen could actually stand in about half of it. The boys jumped and jumped and jumped. And of course they swam and swam. Aiden has started to really practice his swimming moves while being held and near the end he started to want to swim underwater. He is a little fish at the pool and loves to be thrown really high in the air with a splash at the end. Owen is nonstop at the pool; jumping, swimming underwater, floating, being thrown and of course lots of horseplay. The pool play was a lot of fun.

Other than hanging at the beach, pool and our house we did go to do a couple different things. I heard about a Kids Museum in Kitty Hawk and thought it would be a nice break from the sun and sand. It was small but the boys loved it and proved to be a wonderful outing. Then one afternoon we took them go-kart racing. It was a small track and both had to ride with us, but Owen LOVED it. Aiden started out excited then he complained that the race car was too loud, but he chilled out and enjoyed the noisy ride. We were the only ones in the slower two-seater cars and Owen and Omer passed everyone and won. Owen was beyond excited and proud to be the winner.

I have to include that Chester was a hoot at the beach. I think he is trying to step into the role that Chloe once had of protector and caretaker. He would get very concerned when we were in the ocean and would get very close to coming in. He also would run to "help" when Aiden would fall down in a wave. Chester as we all know is very social too so he had to greet everyone that walked in our area. He had a blast chasing birds and crabs too.

On our way home we stopped by Grave Digger's Home. The boys loved it and their faces when they saw life size monster trucks were great. Aiden is obsessed with monster trucks so it was very special for him. The best part is that you can ride in a monster truck. Aiden did not meet the height requirement but I asked and they let him. So he sat on Omer with Owen close next to him and off they went on the bumpy ride. They loved it!!

Us adults enjoyed a lot of wine, games, porch relaxing and laughter and food. Overall it was a great beach vacation and hope the tradition continues.

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Big Boy Aiden

Since Spring Aiden will only wear screen tees, but as Owen never had an opinion at two on what he wore I have tons of adorable polo shirts. I have been super sad that Aiden WON'T wear these because they are sweet and big boy looking. This morning he put one on and I was so happy and loved seeming Aiden in Owen's old big boy shirts.

Splish Splash

Oops, I found these on my phone today. Last week it was super hot and the pool isn't open until 4:00 pm, which we went to every day, but the morning was HOT. I pulled the slip-n-slide out and the boys only went down a couple times but instead had a blast jumping in the "pool" at the end and splashing with each other.

Splashing Brothers

Jumping Aiden

Slinking in the Water

Jumping Owen

Water Boy

Playing in the Sprinkler

Sitting on the Sprinkler

Big Splashes

Snuggle Bugs

The boys were playing upstairs my themselves and I was called in to see what they had created. They brought in some of their large animals, blankets and pillows to my room and created a camp out. Talk about cute brothers.

Biker Owen

We got Owen a bike when he turned 4 but he never liked riding it and really had some trouble with it. I never pushed it as he just didn't want to. But I have noticed a couple times now that he has been embarrassed he couldn't ride a bike around others his age that could. Our neighbors were upgrading to a bigger bike so gave us their old bike. Owen was very excited to have a big boy bike and took right to it. He was so proud and excited! At first he wanted a little push and a gentle hand here and there when he got nervous. And now day two he rode it to the playground this morning, to the pool this afternoon and after dinner around the block. He has the confident now and a great bike. So excited he has finally accomplished this skill.

Rolling with Chester

We were playing outside and Chester began to roll around in the grass. Aiden looked over and began to laugh and told me "Roll with Chester". He proceeded to lay near Chester and roll around in the grass. It was super cute!

Living Classroom

We went to Glen Echo Park today to watch Frog and Toad at the Adventure Theatre. We went up early so we could finally explore the Living Classroom. It was amazing! There was a whole outdoor space to explore and a huge natural sandbox the boys had fun in, but the best part was the indoor area. It was spectacular. The decor was so fun. There were several different creatures to look at from lizard to snake to hedgehog to bunny. There were costumes and a huge climbing structure that consisted of caves. There was also a wooden step to a log bridge and big slide. Truly we could have spent the whole day there. Being there was a Folk Festival there so we were the only ones there and got a one on one animal encounter. Owen even got to show off some of his knowledge to the guide. It made Owens day and then of course we saw Frog and Toad play, and loved it. The boys did great and loved the theatre again. What a great family outing.

Owen and Aiden Climbing the Wood Stairs

Aiden wanted to cross the bridge but actually asked for help

Owen in Turtle Costume

The Boys Entering One of the Tunnels

African Bullfrog (look how excited Owen was)

Petting the Frog

Such Joy

Yes More Touching

Aiden left to go bounce on some pillows when the guide got the Leopard Gecko. Once again look at that face

Once Aiden saw something else was there, he ran back to check out the new animal

The gecko was very active, the boys loved watching him climbing all around

Petting the Gecko

Owen was in Love!

Gecko Tail

Aiden petting Gecko

Outside they got to check out a box turtle.